Vehicle signal indicator



Nov. 20, 1934.

F. MAMIYA Filed March 23, 1952 Fij.'

2 Sheets-Sheet l 45 0 7' I if 4Z /I Z il l .38 47 v 39 715 i Y 42 /4 4lJe INVENTORJ: FUsAJmo PTAMLYA. BYA:

Nov.42o, 1934. F. MAMIYA 1,981,274

1 VEHICLE SIGNAL INDICATOR Filed March 23, 1952 Y 2 sheets-sheet 2IVENTORJ: FUSAJIR MAMIYA- BYAr-rv:

Patented Nov. 20, 1934 uNtrr-:o STATES 1,981,274v VEHICLE SIGNALI'NDC'A'rolt Fusajiro Mamiya, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 23,1932, Serial No. 600,681

v4. claims. (cl. 11s-52)' This invention relates to improvements indirection signals for vehicles, and has for its objects to provide asignal device that may be supported from the side of an automobile, andhaving a i'semaphore element that may be shifted to a variety ofpositions for showing changes in direction that the driver wishes tosteer the vehicle, or to indicate the intention of the driver to stop.

Other objects of this invention are to simplify the construction ofsignals of this class, to provide a signal which is easily operated andwhich will not occupy a great amount of room in the vehicle, and toprovide a signal capable of being 'attached to many existing vehicleconstructions without requiring change or alteration therein.

Other objects are to provide a signal which will be ornamental inappearance, well adapted for both day and night use, which will showdirection 'by a semaphore, and to provide a signal which will becompacted to minimum size in inoperative position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be morefully described herein- 25 after and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the signal insignaling position. Fig. 2

is a sectional elevation of the signal in signaling positiontransversely through the housing. Fig.

3oV i3 is a sectional elevation of the signal with the signal elementsin non-display position. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the actuatingmechanism that is within the housing. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation ofthat portion of the mechanism within the housing. Fig. 6 is a detailview of the actuating slide member. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of thecomplete signal devic-e. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of the switch andoperating handle. Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the cover for theswitch. 40' The invention as illustrated may' be applied to the outsideof any conventional automobile and particularly to the sloping andinclined wall adjacent to the windshield, and consists of a housing 10having front and rear walls 11, a side wall 12, and the outer opening 13between walls 11. The housing may be secured to the automobile bysupporting bracket 14, adapted for attach- L.ent to the usual sloping orinclined walls of the automobile. The housing has attached thereto atubular casing 15, on the inner end of which is mounted a switch casing16 having a cover 17, provided with notches 18. The housing walls 11 areprovided with inwardly projecting bearing members 19. Signal semaphore21 is operatively mounted on bearing members 19,

and has colored glass-k waus. 2'2", and an electric bulb 23 mountedtherein. Other parts of the housing consist of two parabolic lens 24,each of which is mounted in a wall 11, and which has n an outer smoothsurface 25,l and an inner surface 6'0- having hemispherical projections26. Lens 24 are each secured by retainer members 27.

To actuate the semaphore 21, I provide a tubular shaft 28 which isoperatively mounted in Y, tubular casing 15, and which has on its outer""y end within the housing 10, a disk 29, provided with a cam 30, andwhich has on its inner end within the switch casing 16, an actuatinglever 31, adapted to move through slot 32 in the switch n A casing, andhaving thereon a lever 33, adapted 7''f`l to engage with notches 18, incover 17.

A slide member 34, mounted in a guide member 35 which is xed to wall 12,of the signal housing, has a slot 37 in which cam 30 operates. Memn ber35 has projecting ears 38, carrying a shaft f5* 39. A tiltable member 40is mounted on shaft 39, and has short arms 4l carrying a fixed shaft 42,which is laterallyslidable in a loop member 43, Xed to slide member`34.Rotary movement v of the disk 29 actuates cam 30 through arcuate 88"'paths of movement, thereby actuating the slide member with correspondingreciprocatory movement, and the tiltable member 40 with a swingingmovement. Member 40 is connected by link 44 with the semaphore, therebyactuating the semaphore to display positions in accordance with theplacing of lever 33 in the required notch 18. An electric wire lead 45,extends from switch member 46, through rotary shaft 28, and to electricbulb socket 47 within the semaphore. A wire lead 48 is adapted to beconnected to a source of electric energy (not shown), and is connectedto contact member 49 within the switch housing. In inoperative position,the movable switch member 46 is not in contact with member 49, but willengage therewith in any operative position of the semaphore. f

In use, the operator will actuate lever 31, and place lever 33 in any ofthe desired notches for displaying a signal, and thereby will actuatethe semaphore to a corresponding position. Lever 33 is retained in thenotches by spring 50. Rubber washers 5l are mounted on shaft 39, andinterposed between members 38 and tiltable member 40.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal indicator, a signal housing, a semaphore operativelymounted therein and adapted to project therefrom in display positions, atubular casing projecting from the signal housing, a shaft rotatablewithin the tubular casing, a lever for actuating the shaft, a disk fixedto the outer end of the shaft and disposed within the signal housing, acam on the disk, a slotted slide member in engagement with the cam, atiltable member within the signal housing and in engagement with theslidable member, and a link connected to the semaphore and to thetiltable Y member.

2. In a signal indicator, a signal housing, a semaphore pivotallymounted relative to the signal housing, and operative to angular displaypositions, a rotary disk within the housing, a cam on the disk, a slidemember in engagement with the cam, a tiltable member arranged to beactuated by the slide member, and a link operatively connecting thetiltable member With the semaphore.

3. InY a signal indicator, a signal housing, a semaphore pivotallymounted relative to the housing and 'operative to angular displayposithehousing a slide memberfoperative Within the guide member, atiltable member mounted on the guide member and in engagement with theslide member, a link operatively connecting the semaphore with thetiltable member, a rotatable disk Withinl the housing, a cam on the diskin engagement with the slide member, and means for actuating the diskthrough limited arcs of movement.

FUSAJIRO MAMIYA.

